President Lee Declares December 3 as 'National Sovereignty Day' to Honor 'Great History'

President Lee Jae-myung, marking the 78th Constitution Day, pledged to designate December 3 as National Sovereignty Day every year to ensure that the meaning and spirit of that day are fully passed on to future generations.

In a Constitution Day message titled "To the Great People of Korea Who Protected Democracy," posted on his Facebook page, President Lee stated, "As we observe Constitution Day, I am reflecting once again on how we can uphold the values of national sovereignty, freedom, and democracy declared by the Constitution in our lives today."

Previously, in a special statement issued last year to mark the one-year anniversary of the emergency martial law, President Lee expressed his intention to designate December 3, the day the emergency martial law was declared, as a public holiday called National Sovereignty Day.

President Lee noted, "The emergency martial law declared in the middle of the night on December 3, 2024, reminded us all that the threat to democracy is not a thing of the past, but a reality that can recur at any time in today's Republic of Korea."

He continued, "However, the great people of Korea proved to the whole world through the 'Revolution of Light' that the spirit of national sovereignty enshrined in the Constitution is alive and breathing in our lives," and emphasized, "The government of national sovereignty will surely remember and carry on this great history."

President Lee also mentioned, "On this day in 1948, the Republic of Korea proclaimed its first Constitution, declaring that the people are the masters of the nation," adding, "The principle of national sovereignty, which states that the sovereignty of the Republic of Korea resides in the people and all power comes from the people, has been the compass that has sustained the democratic republic of Korea for the past 78 years."

He reflected, "The modern history of the Republic of Korea has been a fierce history of the people protecting their own sovereignty against forces that sought to undermine constitutional values and democracy and privatize power."

He further emphasized, "Through our long history, we have confirmed that democracy is not guaranteed forever once it is achieved, but must be constantly protected through the participation, courage, and solidarity of citizens."

President Lee also mentioned the "Committee of Light," which officially launched on July 13, stating, "We will systematically collect and preserve the records of the Revolution of Light so that K-Democracy can be widely spread as a model for global democracy."

The Committee of Light is a presidential advisory body that promotes projects such as designating commemorative days, managing archives, and installing monuments to inherit the civic spirit that stood against the previous government's illegal emergency martial law.

Along with this, President Lee attached a photo of a certificate of appreciation to be delivered to attendees of the citizen invitation event held at the Blue House today to mark the launch of the Committee of Light.

In the certificate, President Lee wrote, "I will never forget the citizens who spent the night on the asphalt in the middle of winter, sharing silver blankets with one another; the young people who guarded the front of the National Assembly in preparation for potential additional martial law; and the countless citizens who rushed to Namtaeryeong to offer a helping hand of solidarity. Thank you sincerely."
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.